Day: March 30, 2011

An interesting idea. U.S. Sen. Richard Burr of the VA Committee, has introduced for the second straight year a resolution to honor the veterans of that controversial war. here’s a press release from his office. Is this needed? Do we really need do something like this anymore or do we still owe Vietnam Vets recognition above praise for their service? I’d like to get thoughts from people. As I wonder if this will set a trend of honoring people and thus take some of the luster off Veterans Day or Armed Forces Day. All vets deserve our thanks. I just wonder if we need to single out a specific group.

“While we cannot right the wrong done to the men and women returning from Vietnam, today we have an opportunity to recognize their service and thank them for entering harm’s way. While we remember the sacrifices these veterans made to preserve our freedom, we also honor the ultimate sacrifice made by their fallen comrades. Thank you to all of those who served in Vietnam, and belated welcome home.

“American servicemen and women in Vietnam took a strong stand against a very powerful and very real threat of communism. What they accomplished has made an enormous impact on the world today – a world where people are fighting to secure and protect democracy in their own countries.

“I encourage Americans across the country to take time today to honor the Vietnam veterans among our friends, family, and communities. What happened during the Vietnam War is a powerful reminder that we must continue to respect and welcome home American troops returning from war today. Never again should the nation disregard and denigrate a generation of veterans.”

Senator Burr introduced the resolution to designate March 30th as “Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day” for the second consecutive year. To read the resolution, click here. Veterans, veterans’ advocacy groups, local and state governments across the country are participating in this day by adopting similar resolutions and hosting events in their communities.

American forces officially withdrew from Vietnam on March 30th 1973, according to the terms of the Treaty of Paris. American troops returned to a country divided in its opinions about the war. In total, more than 58,000 members of the United States Armed Forces lost their lives and more than 300,000 were wounded in Vietnam.

If you read my blog, you know I geek out for the A-10 Thunderbolt II or as it’s known by most, the Warthog. It’s the most wicked attack aircraft in the world, hands down, and when Friend of the Blog Starbuck over at WingsoverIraq.com decided to do something, I had to steal his link and geek out as well. what I love about this plane, well, where do you start. It was built around a huge cannon and it was designed for one thing — to kill tanks and protect the pilot. It was the target of fighter jocks who didn’t lke the ugly plane and wanted to replace it with a more sexy looking thing. And then the first Gulf War came on and the A-10 shined:

Pierre Sprey’s brainchild would become a legend. The “plane built around a gun” would destroy nearly 4,000 pieces of military equipment in Desert Storm, and survive hundreds of rounds of small-arms fire and flak during Iraqi Freedom. The A-10 has even scored more air to air kills than the F/A-18 Hornet, downing two Iraqi helicopters with its GAU-8 30mm “Avenger” cannon during the First Gulf War.

Now, the plane has taken out a patrol boat. Amazing. Now, I know some Marines aren’t too fond the plane. There are a friendly fire incident at Nasiriyah where some Marines were strafed by the A-10. But that’s not the plane; that’s pilot error or the fog of war. Easy to talk about when you are sitting in Peoria. But hard to live through.

The A-10 was just modernized and expected to remain in service for at least 15 more years as the A-10C. It’s going to be replace, in theory by the F-35 Lightening II which is going to come in three variants and will be sued by all service branches. It’s the Joint Strike Fighter. There was never a production two-seater, the A-10B model but man, I wish there was. I’d love to fly up in one of these things. Interesting side note for Peoria: The 182nd was to have A-10s and the base out on Smithville Road was built for the plane but that never happened and we got C-130s instead.

There have been a bunch of posts over at my facebook page which on the plane and other side chatter. I am hoping the people there will move their posts here. Got some good conversation so geek out and have fun.